On June 1st, 2018, B.C.\’s minimum wage rose by $1.30 to boost the province\’s current wage of $11.35 per hour to $12.65. The wage increase is part of B.C.\’s plan to raise the current wage to just over $15 per hour by 2021.
To make that happen, the minimum wage will increase every year until that amount is met:
- June 1, 2019: $13.85 an hour ($1.20 increase)
- June 1, 2020: $14.60 an hour ($0.75 increase)
- June 1, 2021: $15.20 an hour ($0.60 increase)
B.C.\’s minimum wage remained at $8 per hour from 2001 to 2011 under the Liberal\’s Gordon Campbell government. When Christy Clark, also of the B.C. Liberal Party, became premier in 2011, she increase the minimum wage to $8.75 per hour. By the time she left office in 2017, the province\’s minimum wage was $10.85.
With the rising cost of living in B.C., the poverty line is about $15 an hour. So there are hundreds of thousands of workers who, even if they work full-time, have a wage below the poverty line. The math just doesn\’t add up.
Although this is positive for workers, it does put added pressure on businesses, especially small businesses. It appears that minimum wage is set to continue to rise so businesses will need to put a plan in place to make this happen.
Ontario, at $14 per hour, and Alberta at $13.60 per hour, have the highest minimum wages in Canada. Alberta is planning to raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour in October.
Posted: June 28, 2018 by cvsadmin
CVS Paint Night
CVS had its 1st ever Paint Night this past Tuesday, June 26th at Montana\’s in Coquitlam and it was a resounding success! Everyone had a great time and, best of all, got to leave with a beautiful self-made masterpiece. Check out the pictures below –
Stay tuned for further announcements about events like this coming up in the future…
Posted: June 28, 2018 by cvsadmin
1st CVS BBQ of the Summer a Success!
Thank you to everyone who came out to our CVS BBQ on last Friday, June 22nd. It was a great afternoon of fun and food.
Please join us for our next CVS Parking Lot BBQ on Friday August 31st (11am – 1:30pm) as well as our Annual Summer Picnic on Friday, July 13th (11am – 1:30pm).
Here are some pictures from last Friday – enjoy!
Posted: June 28, 2018 by cvsadmin
CVS Says Goodbye to Two Board Members
On Monday, June 25th, CVS had its Annual General Meeting. It was an excellent meeting to reflect on another year of growth at CVS. We also took the time to thank two of our Board members who are retiring from the Board – Cindy Lee and Chris Ackerman.
Cindy Lee, who recently retired from her position with School District 43, made the difficult decision to retire from the CVS Board of Directors after 17 years. We want to thank Cindy for her time and dedication to the Board. It has helped CVS grow through a number of stages of its development. Our Treasurer, Chris Ackerman, is also retiring from the Board. In a short space of time, Chris has helped us through a number of transitions and we wanted to thank him for his commitment and dedication.
We wish Chris and Cindy all the best in their future endeavours.
Posted: June 26, 2018 by cvsadmin
CVS Annual Report 2017/2018
Here is our new CVS Annual Report 2017/2018 that contains information on our activities over the past year.
Enjoy!
Posted: June 22, 2018 by cvsadmin
Free PATH Training
The Family Support Institute of BC is offering a free PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) for individuals and youth eligible for CLBC supports. If you or a loved one, fall into that category, please check out the poster below and get in touch with Valerie Irving at Family Support Institute of BC.
Posted: June 21, 2018 by cvsadmin
Giving People a Chance, Experiencing the Rewards
We want to spotlight a wonderful article written by Paul Sawka, discussing the challenges many individuals with disabilities face when looking for a job. He highlights 3 areas in particular – (1) getting the right training & education; (2) finding someone to hire them; and (3) finding the perfect support at work.
Paul provides his insight based on his own experience and offers some suggestions to those who are looking to find a job and get employed. Take the time to read the article, to learn from Paul and his experiences.
As Paul says, we just need the chance to prove ourselves and then, the doors of the working world become a lot more open.
Posted: June 21, 2018 by cvsadmin
Love, Hope & Autism
Please take the time to watch this video pulled together by the CBC. It is an interesting story about Fraser, based on a lifetime of home movie footage. The documentary takes the viewer behind statistics on the rise of autism in North America, deep into the heart of a family raising a son with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
It provides a glimpse into a family who had to handle the highs, lows and unexpected surprises of ASD. Taking the time to watch this video is well worth it.
Watch it by clicking this link.
Posted: June 15, 2018 by cvsadmin
Rock for Autism at Rocky Point Park – Sun June 17th
If you\’re looking for something fun to do in the community this weekend, we\’re so excited to share a fun event happening at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody. Rock for Autism will be happening on Sunday, June 17th between noon – 8pm.
Join us for a great day of live music, with all proceeds going to AutismBC. We can\’t think of a better way to spend Father\’s Day or a Sunday afternoon. The weather is due to be beautiful so head out to Rocky Point Park to enjoy the festivities. In addition to the live music, there will be a range of family friendly activities – perfect for dad and the whole family!
For a list of bands and more information about this rockin\’ event, check out the event website.
Posted: June 8, 2018 by cvsadmin
Michael Prince Appointed as Next CLBC Chair
In May it was announced by the B.C. government that Michael J. Prince, the Lansdowne professor of social policy at the University of Victoria, had been appointed chair of Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) by Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The appointment of a new chair provides an opportunity to reimagine the future of community inclusion.
As a social policy advisor, Prince has helped governments and organizations develop policies and actions that further inclusion and accessibility, and has made substantive contributions to the understanding of disabilities in Canada.
Mr. Prince has served as a member of the social policy committee of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and was a policy fellow of the Broadbent Institute. He is a recipient of a President’s Award from the Canadian Association of Community Living, in recognition of his contribution to Canadians’ understanding of public policy that builds an inclusive and accessible Canada.
For more information on the appointment and CLBC\’s mandate, please click here.
Posted: June 7, 2018 by cvsadmin
B.C.\’s New Minimum Wage Now in Effect
On June 1st, 2018, B.C.\’s minimum wage rose by $1.30 to boost the province\’s current wage of $11.35 per hour to $12.65. The wage increase is part of B.C.\’s plan to raise the current wage to just over $15 per hour by 2021.
To make that happen, the minimum wage will increase every year until that amount is met:
B.C.\’s minimum wage remained at $8 per hour from 2001 to 2011 under the Liberal\’s Gordon Campbell government. When Christy Clark, also of the B.C. Liberal Party, became premier in 2011, she increase the minimum wage to $8.75 per hour. By the time she left office in 2017, the province\’s minimum wage was $10.85.
With the rising cost of living in B.C., the poverty line is about $15 an hour. So there are hundreds of thousands of workers who, even if they work full-time, have a wage below the poverty line. The math just doesn\’t add up.
Although this is positive for workers, it does put added pressure on businesses, especially small businesses. It appears that minimum wage is set to continue to rise so businesses will need to put a plan in place to make this happen.
Ontario, at $14 per hour, and Alberta at $13.60 per hour, have the highest minimum wages in Canada. Alberta is planning to raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour in October.
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